Leadership: 4 Directions You Need to Lead [VIDEO]

“What is the most difficult aspect of leadership?” I get asked this question frequently. There are a lot of answers for this: burnout, technology, hybrid work environments, budget constraints, managing people, and H.R. These are all difficult leadership challenges.

But, one of the most challenging aspects of leadership is what I call “Directional Leadership.” Directional leadership references the way that I lead against the four directions in my organization: how I lead myself, how I lead those above, how I lead those below, and how I lead those who are lateral.  Here are the four leadership directions and some best practices to manage them well.   

1. Personal Leadership

Personal leadership is the ability to lead you. Sometimes, the toughest person to lead is you.  Making good decisions, getting the right rest, focusing on nutrition, thinking ahead of time about how to present an idea or speak to a colleague, etc. Managing yourself is one of the most difficult aspects of leadership.

Best practice: Find a truthteller in your life who allows you to remove the blind spots that are keeping you from being the best version of yourself. Soren Kierkegaard said, “There are two ways to be deceived: one consists in believing in what is not true and the other in refusing to believe what is true.” Each of us has varying degrees of blind spots in our lives, and when a friend, colleague, or “enemy” offers you the ability to remove a part or all of a specific blind spot, it is a gift to your leadership.

2. Lateral Leadership

Lateral leadership is the challenge of leading those who are equal to you. People who are vying for the same budget money, those who are influential in the strategic plan alongside you, or your peers who are going for the same promotion you are. So, how do you lead well when it is lateral leadership? It won’t be through authority or power.

Best Practice: Practice servant leadership. Be the person that is serving people who are equal to you. You will be surprised at how servant leadership positively influences your ability to lead people who are equal to you in the organization.

3. Upward Leadership

Upward leadership is leading people when you are under their authority. I know it sounds counterintuitive – how do I lead someone when they are the one in authority? 

Best Practice: Practice the no surprise rule with your supervisor. The person you report to should never be surprised about the time you take off, the work that you are doing, the project you are on, and the deliverables that you are involved in.

The second part of this is that influencing the person above you actually grows your influence. When they see the influence you are having, they will trust you with ideas and concepts that will continue to grow your leadership. The larger you can draw your circle of influence, the wider your potential impact spreads.

4. Downward Leadership

Downward leadership is leading those who report to you in the organization. What really sets you apart as a leader is when you invest in the people who report to you and take the initiative to make their career, progress, and future a priority in what you do.

We are familiar with performance reviews – where your boss sits you down once a year and reviews the work that you are doing. But as a leader, I have found it to be incredibly valuable to ask a few people who report to me for their direct feedback on how I am leading them. It is one of the greatest gifts to be able to go to those people and say, “Help me understand the way that I am influencing you. Help me understand my leadership when It comes to people that report to me.”  

Best Practice: Let those who report to you be a barometer of your leadership and impact. And make their growth a leadership priority. 

The Most Important Question

No matter which of the four directions you lead in, this one question has an influence and impact on each of them: What can I do to help? As people begin to think of you as a person who is willing to help in whatever situation, do the heavy work, be involved in the project, stay connected to other people, etc., that is going to transform your leadership.

Of the four directions of leadership, which do you find most difficult? Contact us to learn how our coaches can help you strengthen the four directions of your leadership.

Billy Dunn is a Senior Consultant at The Center Consulting Group and has over 20 years of church and nonprofit leadership experience. He serves as the Character Coach for the Lehigh University Men’s Basketball team and the Director of Ministry Leadership for Word FM. Billy has assisted with the launch of a number of nonprofit organizations and has worked with organizations and ministries across the world. Billy has an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and brings experience in the areas of leading change, leadership coaching, resource development, church growth planning, and strategic thinking and planning.